Scruggs asks for dismissal of contempt charge

Mississippi lawyer Richard Scruggs, who has won billion-dollar lawsuit settlements, is urging a Birmingham federal judge to dismiss a charge that he disobeyed a court order by giving Hurricane-related documents to that state's attorney general.

In court filings made public today, attorneys for Scruggs said the criminal contempt charge he face should be tossed out because the Dec. 12 order by Senior U.S. District Judge William Acker provided that the documents could be disclosed to law enforcement officials such as the Mississippi attorney general.

Special prosecutors in Birmingham charged Scruggs with criminal contempt of court, contending he willfully disobeyed Acker's order to return State Farm documents he received from sisters Kerri and Cori Rigbsy.

The sisters, who filed a whistle-blower lawsuit, have said they uncovered evidence that State Farm was unfairly handling claims after Hurricane Katrina. Scruggs has sued State Farm on behalf of hundreds of Mississippi residents.

The women are being sued by Birmingham's E.A. Renfroe & Co., a firm that contracts with State Farm to send out insurance adjusters during catastrophes.

Scruggs lawyers are asking U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler, who is presiding over the contempt case, to dismiss the allegations. The lawyers also note that the U.S. attorney's office in Birmingham declined to prosecute Scruggs and his law firm.